Gallery: Best and worst vehicles to survive a Snowmageddon

Paramount Marauder

PHOTO: Handout, Paramount Group

8x8 Ice Explorer. Look, it's called an Ice Explorer. It's built for a specific purpose, isn't it? And if you need to move a couple dozen people across the newly-frozen landscape, you can bet this truck will get you where you need to go.

PHOTO: Screen shot, YouTube

Tundra buggy.

Robert Taylor

Heavy Duty Plow. Most of the time, a conventional snow plow is all you need. But if we're talking Snowmaggeddon, we're going to need an upsize. The JPS Mega Star DB75 plow is just the kind of superplow you'll need to fight your way through severe snow and ice conditions. Just watch this thing in action and you'll understand instantly.

PHOTO: Screen shot, YouTube

Snow plow. Just about anyone with a plow on the front end of their truck is considered a hero in the aftermath of a snow storm. Flickr Creative Commons photo.

PHOTO: Richard in Regina, Flickr

If the roads are impossible to traverse, perhaps there's another way. You might just be able to blast your way across the rails on a plow car. Flickr Creative Commons photo.

PHOTO: waferboard, Flickr

John Deere 9R Tractor. You're going to need something with big wheels. Actually, never mind that. You're going to need something with treads. Big treads. Like a mega-sized tractor. Lucky for you if you already own one of these, because you can forget about your puny pickup truck or SUV. Leave it in the snow drift that has all but buried your house.

PHOTO: Handout, John Deere

A 20-year-old(ish) Toyota HJ-61. These old Land Cruisers are workhorses. If well-maintained, they'll last virtually forever. And they're built to withstand whatever challenge you put before it. Flickr Creative Commons photo.

PHOTO: Jurgen, Flickr

Conquest Knight XV

Handout

Any vehicle that will not only transport you safely across snow is a good option. Even better is if it removes the snow, too. And when you're talking the largest snowstorm ever recorded, you're going to want to have this one: the largest snowblower ever made. Watch it in action on YouTube.

PHOTO: Screen shot, YouTube

Ziegler fire engine. Not that you'd have to put out fires after a snowstorm. In fact, you probably wouldn't really want to be spraying water on anything, considering the -50C post-storm overnight lows. But this airport fire vehicle looks well-equipped for adverse conditions. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: WikiABG, Wikipedia

Liebherr T 282 B giant mining truck.

PHOTO: Handout, Postmedia News

Avoid: Volkswagen Beetle. A somewhat quirky vehicle at the best of times, the original Volkswagen Beetle was never a reliable choice for winter transportation. Underpowered and rear-wheel drive, the Bug was, er, less than agile on slippery roads and easily buried in large snow drifts. Proof that cuteness will only get you so far, unfortunately. Flickr Creative Commons photo.

PHOTO: my_new_wintercoat, Flickr

Avoid: Dune buggy. For obvious reasons. While it might be able to get you over the freshly-formed snow slopes, there's no protection from the elements. And since we're talking near-nuclear winter conditions, you're going to need some warmth. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Realityexpander/public domain, Wikipedia

Avoid: Lincoln Town Car. It might be unfair to single out the Town Car, but large rear-wheel-drive "land yachts" of this kind are generally ill-suited for driving in winter conditions. They handle poorly at the best of times, but add a little snow or ice to the mix and all bets are off. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: IFCAR, Wikipedia

Lamborghinis. Nothing quite screams "Look at me!" like a Lamborghini. Everything about it is overstated. And everyone knows instantly a Lambo when they see one. So for rich, attention-starved stepchildren, the choice of vehicle is obvious.

PHOTO: Graeme Fletcher, National Post

Avoid: Hyundai Pony. Actually, just don't drive this one. The Pony is one of the worst cars ever built. But if remarkable unreliability didn't already leave you marooned in a snowstorm, the rea-wheel-drive would guarantee it. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Bull-Doser/public domain, Wikipedia

Chevrolet Chevette. Here's a car you probably should avoid altogether (a moot point, mind you, since there aren't too many of them still around). An underpowered (originally only 53-70 horsepower), rear-wheel drive compact car is just not a safe option for a civilization-halting snow storm. Wikimedia Commons photo.

PHOTO: Vegavairbob, Wikipedia

Avoid: Articulated buses. Sadly, while many of us opt to avoid driving in heavy snow, public transit is prone to its own troubles. Articulated buses tend to fail in snow storms, leaving frustrated commuters stranded while the tow truck pulls away with their only ride. It's a familiar experience in many Canadian cities (hello, Ottawa!).